JERUSALEM (JTA) — The heads of Israel’s top security agencies have recommended that $15 million in delayed aid from the government of Qatar be delivered to the Gaza Strip.
The third payment of a larger grant was supposed to be delivered to Gaza three weeks ago but was held up over continued unrest on the border between Israel and Gaza.
On Wednesday, the Security Cabinet met to discuss the recommendations from the agencies, including the military, the Israel Security Agency and the Mossad.
Several members of the Security Cabinet support the recommended transfer, the Kan national broadcaster reported Wednesday evening, but a final decision was not made, according to Kan. Other Israeli news outlets reported that the Cabinet agreed to transfer the funds in the next 24 hours.
The money was scheduled to be transferred on Wednesday, but that transfer was canceled on Tuesday after a Gaza sniper shot an Israeli soldier in the head. The soldier was injured; his life was saved by his helmet.
According to the defense establishment, Islamic Jihad was responsible for the shooting and not Hamas, which runs Gaza and would distribute the aid money.
On Wednesday, Qatari envoy Mohammed al-Amadi called for the money to be transferred by Friday.
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